Beyond the main stage, the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action leveraged COP30 side events to deepen collaboration and spotlight practical solutions for climate implementation. These sessions explored cutting-edge themes—from taxonomy interoperability and adaptation finance to integrating climate risks into debt sustainability analysis. Highlights included dialogues on the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap, the Circle of Finance Ministers report, and the Independent High-Level Expert Group’s recommendations, all reinforcing the Coalition’s commitment to mobilizing private capital and aligning fiscal frameworks with climate goals. By convening finance leaders, institutional partners, and technical experts, these side events advanced actionable strategies to scale investment and accelerate a just, resilient transition.

Key Highlights Include:

1) High Level Event "Implementing the COP30 Circle of Finance Ministers Report and the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T: Recommendations and Pathways to Deliver 

The event focused on implementing the Circle of Finance Ministers Report and the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap (B2BRM), aiming to mobilize USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for climate action.

Key Takeaways:

• There is strong alignment between Circle priorities and B2BRM.
• Finance ministers were recognized as pivotal for implementation.
• MDB reform, risk-sharing instruments, and creating enabling environments are urgent.
• Private finance mobilization remains a priority.
• Next steps: define short-term actions and milestones under Brazil’s COP30 presidency.

During the event, the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action reaffirmed its leadership in integrating climate into economic and fiscal policy.

• Recognition of Finance Ministries’ Role: Highlighted the critical importance of domestic policy levers—such as carbon pricing, fiscal coordination, and NDC implementation—in accelerating climate action.
• Alignment with COP30 Priorities: Committed to advancing workstreams on:

Priority 3: Domestic actions within finance ministries’ remit.
Priority 4: Innovative financing instruments and private capital mobilization.
Priority 5: Strengthening domestic financial systems and taxonomies.

• Collaboration with Brazil and Partners: Welcomed the Circle and Baku-to-Belém Roadmap as milestones for scaling climate finance to USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

2) Baku-to-Belém Roadmap (B2BRM) Event 

The roadmap consolidates 227 submissions, including 38 from Party groups, into a practical guide to mobilize USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

Key Highlights:

• Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency stressed that the $300 billion concessional finance goal is central to climate justice and requires national targets and transparent reporting.
• UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called B2BRM “our guide” to turn commitments into action, emphasizing coordination and shared responsibility.
• Speakers underscored that climate investment is not a cost but a driver of growth, with adaptation finance and resilience at the core.

Next Steps:

• Short-term actions: feasibility studies, structured dialogues, and institutional readiness.
• Continued collaboration between Brazil and Azerbaijan to refine data and accelerate implementation.
• Engagement with MDBs, private investors, and non-Party stakeholders to unlock scale and innovation.

The roadmap signals a shift from vision to delivery, calling for better, more predictable, and accessible finance. As COP30 CEO Ana Toni noted: “Time to act is now. There is no lack of finance, but we must redirect resources at the scale and speed the climate challenge demands.”

3) Roundtable on the Fourth Report of the IHLEG on Climate Finance: Delivering an integrated climate finance agenda in support of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T 

At COP30, the IHLEG presented its fourth finance report, a key companion to the Circle of Finance Ministers Report and the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap. The report provides a detailed analysis of how to mobilize USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035, focusing on innovative and diversified sources of external finance.

Key Insights:

• Of the estimated $3.2 trillion annual investment needs, $2 trillion relates to the energy transition—much of which can be met through private finance.
• The $300 bn concessional finance goal will rely on multiple channels: bilateral aid, carbon markets, philanthropy, SDRs, and new forms of taxation.
• Emphasis on country platforms and integrated development finance strategies to align climate and growth objectives.

UNFCCC’s Executive Secretary Simon Stiell highlighted the report as a practical tool to inform decision-makers and signal solutions beyond the COP process. Experts stressed that climate and development finance must go hand in hand, with adaptation, resilience, and nature-based solutions as priorities.

The IHLEG report reinforces that while there is no single solution, coordinated action across governments, MDBs, the private sector, and coalitions like the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action can make the ambitious financing goals achievable.

4) Advancing NDC Finance for Implementation Across Arab States 

The high-level side event brought together ministries of finance and environment from the global South and global North, serving as a space to present the findings of a forthcoming report that stocktakes progress in the region on climate finance and fiscal policy alignment. It examined the role ministries of finance need to play as partners to ministries of environment and planning in delivering on NDCs in the region. The event also provided an opportunity for practitioners and decision-makers to exchange good practices and explored how regional institutions and initiatives could help scale up climate finance solutions for the Arab States.

5) Taxonomy interoperability to catalyse private capital 

At COP30, Brazil showcased its recently published sustainable finance taxonomy and announced plans for a “super taxonomy” initiative during its COP Presidency. It aims to establish high-level principles to guide countries in developing interoperable taxonomies, enabling comparability and accelerating capital flows from North to South.

With 69 national or regional taxonomies in place or under development, harmonization is essential to direct the $2.4 trillion needed for climate action and support emerging markets. Taxonomies provide a common language for investors and policymakers, reducing uncertainty and boosting cross-border sustainable investment.

Experts stressed science-based principles, early international dialogue, and inclusion of adaptation and resilience in taxonomies. Calls for usability and insurance integration highlighted the need for practical tools alongside global standards. 

Key Highlights:

Brazil’s Leadership: Proposed a roadmap for taxonomy harmonization, building on G20 principles and supported by UNEP and Climate Bonds Initiative. Emphasized taxonomy comparability as critical for implementing the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap.

Global Action on Interoperability: IFC and partners launched four deliverables

• Evidence-based report on global taxonomy trends.
• Principles for interoperability in development and implementation.
• A comparison tool for taxonomies.
• A dedicated website for the taxonomy initiative.

Partnership includes IPSF, UNDP, GIZ, EU Sustainable Finance Group, BMZ, and others.

6) UNFCCC Side Event on Adaptation Finance – Addressing urgent needs for resilience and adaptation funding in vulnerable economies

7) “Novel Approaches to Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, from “what” to “how”” - ministers and climate leaders convened for a high-level dialogue urging the dismantling of regressive fossil fuel subsidies. Speakers highlighted that eliminating these subsidies is critical to meeting climate targets and freeing fiscal space for climate investments, particularly in emerging economies. The discussion underscored the need for transparency, equitable transitions, and stronger international cooperation to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.

8) Global Solidarity Levies Task Force - The high-level event marked the launch of the Premium Flyers Contribution Coalition, an initiative to mobilize new climate finance through targeted charges on business-class, first-class, and private jet travel. Representatives from Kenya, France, Nigeria, Djibouti, Antigua and Barbuda, Spain, and the United Nations joined the dialogue, framing the move as a test of political will and climate justice. The coalition aims to provide fair, debt-free funding solutions at a time when many developing countries face rising climate risks and tight fiscal constraints.

High-Level Event: "Implementing NDCs: How Finance Ministries Can Integrate Climate Goals into Economic Strategy" 

The Coalition's flagship event with Brazil’s Finance Ministry and the COP30 Presidency highlighted the pivotal role of Finance Ministries in delivering NDCs. The discussion underscored the growing importance of Finance Ministries in driving and accelerating climate action, with broad agreement that effective National Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation hinges on strong macro-fiscal leadership.

• Egypt’s Finance Minister, Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, highlighted the importance of regulatory reforms, whole-of-government coordination, and diverse financing instruments—from blended finance to debt-for-climate swaps—in delivering Nationally Determined Contributions.  
• Brazil’s Vice Minister of Finance, Mrs. Tatiana Rosito, emphasized the close synergies between the Circle of Finance Ministers, the CFMCA, the IHLEG report on Climate Finance, and the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap, noting that fiscal and financial policies are central to mobilizing the $1.3 trillion in annual financing needed by emerging markets and developing economies.
• UN Special Advisor and Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Selwin Hart, reaffirmed that updated NDCs now include clearer costing and macroeconomic analysis, reflecting deeper engagement by Finance Ministries, but stressed that ambition remains short of a 1.5°C pathway and that the coming decade must prioritize accelerated implementation—calling on ministries to align macro-fiscal frameworks, leverage MDBs, and counter climate misinformation.
• Contributions from other countries and institutions—including the Netherlands, Uruguay, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Uganda, Denmark, CIF, WRI, and the Grantham Institute—reinforced practical lessons on fossil fuel subsidy reform, climate funds, private-sector mobilization, fiscal risk management, and the importance of strong country platforms. 

Overall, the event confirmed that climate policy is now embedded in macroeconomic strategy, with Finance Ministries playing a critical role in turning commitments into investment pipelines, resilient budgets, and economy-wide transitions.

Watch the event video and  LinkedIn Post

"Inside the Economic Engine Room: Ministries of Finance and Economic Analysis for Green and Resilient Transitions" 

At the Danish Pavilion, the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action hosted an interactive session exploring how finance ministries are embedding climate into fiscal frameworks and budget processes.

Participants explored how MoFs—responsible for managing $30 trillion in public capital—are central to shaping a growth story grounded in optimism and resilience. The event highlighted practical solutions, including peer-to-peer learning, innovative modeling approaches, and new resources to support policy design.

Professor Lord Nicholas Stern introduced his open-access book "The Growth Story of the 21st Century", underscoring the role of MoFs in unlocking investment through a range of policy instruments—from carbon pricing to fiscal incentives and market reforms. His message: multiple market failures demand multiple tools, and strong analytics are essential for unlocking investment and delivering sustainable growth..

Key highlights:

• Launch of the Coalition’s Tools Report, offering guidance for ministries to incorporate climate into fiscal frameworks.
• Insights from countries like Denmark, and its green reform model, and Uganda, integrating climate into debt sustainability assessments.
• Release of new reports, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and evidence-based policymaking.

The Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to help countries strengthen domestic climate action and mobilize resources for the transition.